What’s Up?

Quote from Conference

“Accept His doctrine by repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then throughout your life following the laws and covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Doctrine of Christ,” Ensign, May 2012, 89.

Making the Trek

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Not many things intimidate Kristine. When her stake planned a pioneer trek, she signed up even though everyone was worried about her and whether she could make it. “But I was fine,” says Kristine.

When Kristine was born, one of her legs was shorter than the other. The femur was simply not there. So Kristine wears a special prosthetic leg. She wears it so well, in fact, that she says, “A lot of people don’t notice or at most ask me if I’m limping. They don’t really know.”

As the stake youth set out on a three-day trek, Kristine was making friends with her trek family and doing her part setting up and packing their handcart. After walking 10 miles the first day, Kristine, along with many others, developed some blisters. But she refused to ride to catch up and kept walking, just like the pioneers.

When it came time for the women in the family to pull the handcart up the steepest part of the trail, Kristine was right there in front. “I thought about the women who had to pull their sick husbands and children up places worse than this,” says Kristine. “I did not know how they could do that.”

But many others were wondering the same thing about Kristine. She had such a good excuse not to go or not to participate, but that isn’t how Kristine is. There are very few things that stop her, and her attitude will carry her far in everything she tries.

Photographs courtesy of Scott Blotter

My Favorite Scripture

Ether 15:34 “Now the last words which are written by Ether are these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen.”

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In Ether’s last words that he felt important to pass on to us, he says that he doesn’t care about whether or not he dies or is translated as long as he makes it to God’s kingdom. This teaches us that even though all of the things of this world, such as sports, are fun, they are not even close to the importance of making it to the celestial kingdom.

Ethan T., 14, Washington, USA

Tell us about your favorite scripture in a paragraph or two. Send it to us, along with a photo, by going to newera.lds.org and clicking “Submit Material.”

Photograph courtesy of Ethan T.

What We Really Think of Youth

“Something extraordinary is happening. Do you sense it? Truly, as obedience and morality decline in the world, the Lord is sending more exceptional spirits to earth. As a body they excel the average capacity of their forebears. Their potential for personal growth and positive contribution is enormous.”

The Church in Canada—Ontario

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In 1830, Phineas Young traveled to Earnestown, Canada. Though not a member of the Church at that time, he preached about the Book of Mormon. Two years later Phineas returned to Canada, this time as a convert to the Church, along with five other missionaries. Their preaching helped create four branches. Other missionaries, including the Prophet Joseph Smith, visited Ontario in 1833 and 1837.

Between 1830 and 1850, an estimated 2,500 Canadians, mostly from Ontario, joined the Church. Missionary work progressed slowly in eastern Canada until a mission was organized in 1919. The first Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in eastern Canada was dedicated in Toronto in 1939. The Toronto Ontario Temple was completed in 1990.

Here are a few facts about the Church today in Ontario:

Membership

46,452

Missions

1

Temples

1

Wards & Branches

99

5 Scriptures about Singing

We’ve Got Mail

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A Shining Example

Reading “Be a Shining Example” (Jan. 2012) helped me appreciate the blessings I get from doing my callings and living worthily. It made me notice all the times people ask me why I am happy all the time even though I don’t have the “cool” things.

I had been having trouble [one] night and had a long talk with Heavenly Father. The next day I heard this talk [see “You Are Not Forgotten” at lds.org/go/72E], and it confirmed that I knew that Heavenly Father cared and always had an answer to my prayers.

Kyrie Elizabeth G., 16, Utah, USA

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